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Two medicines, side by side

Magnesium citrate vs psyllium husk

Magnesium citrate and psyllium husk are both labeled for constipation.

Check it at the source: the magnesium citrate FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 1, 2026); the psyllium husk FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 8, 2026).

Highlights of the magnesium citrate record

Magnesium citrate · label of September 1, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications

relieves occasional constipation (irregularity) generally produces bowel movement in 1/2 to 6 hours

On the market

Earliest approval on file
n/a
Generic labelers
none listed
Pharmacy cost
$0.0066 per mL

Supply and safety

Shortage
No current entry
Recalls
1

Highlights of the psyllium husk record

Psyllium husk · label of September 8, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications

• effective in treating occasional constipation and restoring regularity

On the market

Earliest approval on file
n/a
Generic labelers
none listed
Pharmacy cost
Not in the survey

Supply and safety

Shortage
No current entry
Recalls
0

Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Magnesium citrate label of September 1, 2026, Psyllium husk label of September 8, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)

How do magnesium citrate and psyllium husk differ on the record?

Magnesium citratePsyllium husk
Labeled forConstipationConstipation
Pharmacologic classn/an/a
How it works (label)n/an/a
Half-life (label)n/an/a
Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA)n/an/a
First generic approvednonenone
Generic labelers (NDC)none listednone listed
Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ)$0.0066 per mL (Magnesium citrate solution)n/a
12-month price change+6%n/a
Boxed warningNoNo
Shortage nowNo current entryNo current entry
Recalls recorded10
FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used)6,1049,821
DEA schedulenonenone

Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)

What next?

Alternatives to magnesium citrate
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